Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat (née Fromholtz; born 10 August 1956) is an Australian former professional tennis player who reached a highest singles ranking of world No. 4 in 1979.
Career Fromholtz began playing tennis at the age of seven. She left school at the age of 16 to play in international tournaments. She turned pro in 1973 and joined the WTA Tour.
At the age of 17, she participated in the professional tennis circuit, winning the singles title at a dozen tournaments in 1973, but the rules at the time did not permit prize money to be paid to participants under 18 years of age."Dianne's tenth title of year", Sydney Morning Herald, 3 December 1973
She reached the finals of the Australian Open in January 1977, losing to fellow Australian Kerry Melville Reid in two sets. She was a semifinalist at the French Open in 1979 and 1980. She also reached the semifinals of the US Open in 1976.
Fromholtz won eight WTA Tour singles titles and reached a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in 1979. Partnering with Helen Gourlay Cawley, she won the Australian Open women's doubles in January 1977. She had career wins over Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Margaret Court, Virginia Wade, Pam Shriver, and Gabriela Sabatini. She holds an 8–7 career record over King.
Fromholtz met French businessman Claude Balestrat at a New Year's Eve party in 1981, and the couple wed in Dural on 26 December 1982.
On 30 August 2000, Fromholtz was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for her commitment to tennis.
In 2019, Fromholtz was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame, commemorated by a bronze bust located in Garden Square, within Melbourne Park.
Grand Slam finals
Singles: (1 runners-up) ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore Loss 1977(J) Australian OpenGrass Kerry Melville Reid 5–7, 2–6
Doubles: (1 title) ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScore Win 1977(J) Australian Open Grass Helen Gourlay Kerry Melville Reid Betsy Nagelsen 5–7, 6–1, 7–5
Mixed doubles: (1 runner-up) ResultYearChampionship SurfacePartnerOpponentsScore Loss 1980 Wimbledon Grass Mark Edmondson Tracy Austin John Austin 6–4, 6–7(6–8), 3–6
WTA career finals
Singles: 24 (8–16) Winner – LegendGrand Slam tournaments (0–1)WTA Tour Championships (0–0) Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (8–15)Titles by surfaceHard (0–4)Grass (4–5)Clay (3–1)Carpet (1–6) ResultW–LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWin 1–0 May 1973 Guildford, UK Clay Kazuko Sawamatsu 7–5, 4–6, 6–3Win 2–0 Jun 1973 Chichester, UK Grass Brigitte Cuypers 6–1, 6–0Win 3–0 Jun 1973 Beckenham, UK Grass Janet Newberry 7–5, 0–6, 6–1Loss 3–1 Jul 1973 Newport, US Grass Julie Heldman 6–1, 1–6, 9–11Loss 3–2 Nov 1973 Adelaide, Australia Grass Janet Young 5–7, 1–6Win 4–2 Nov 1973 Sydney, Australia Clay Ann Kiyomura 6–1, 7–5Loss 4–3 Aug 1974 South Orange, US Grass Pam Teeguarden 5–7, 3–6Loss 4–4 Nov 1974 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Kerry Melville 3–6, 5–7Loss 4–5 Aug 1975 Indianapolis, US Clay Chris Evert 3–6, 4–6Loss 4–6 Octr 1976 Phoenix, US Hard Chris Evert 1–6, 5–7Win 5–6 Nov 1976 Sydney, Australia Clay Leanne Harrison 6–1, 6–0Loss 5–7 Dec 1976 Sydney, Australia Grass Kerry Melville Reid 6–3, 2–6, 3–6Loss 5–8 Jan 1977 Australian Open Grass Kerry Melville Reid 5–7, 2–6Loss 5–9 Oct 1977 Atlanta, US Carpet Chris Evert 3–6, 2–6Loss 5–10 Feb 1978 Detroit, US Carpet Martina Navratilova 3–6, 2–6Win 6–10 Dec 1978 Sydney, Australia Grass Kerry Melville Reid 6–1, 1–6, 6–4Win 7–10 Dec 1978 Sydney, Australia Grass Wendy Turnbull 6–2, 7–5Loss 7–11 Jan 1979 Hollywood, US Carpet Greer Stevens 4–6, 6–2, 4–6Win 8–11 Mar 1979 Boston, US Carpet Sue Barker 6–2, 7–6(7–4)Loss 8–12 Mar 1979 Carlsbad, US Hard Chris Evert 6–3, 3–6, 1–6Loss 8–13 Oct 1979 Minneapolis, US Carpet Evonne Goolagong 3–6, 4–6Loss 8–14 Sep 1980 Minneapolis, US Carpet Tracy Austin 1–6, 6–2, 2–6Loss 8–15 May 1985 Sydney, Australia Carpet Pam Shriver 3–6, 4–6Loss 8–16 Mar 1987 Phoenix, US Hard Anne White 1–6, 2–6
Doubles: 12 (5-1–6) Winner – LegendGrand Slam tournaments (1–0)WTA Tour Championships (0–0) Virginia Slims, Avon, Other (4–1-6)Titles by surfaceHard (2–2)Grass (1-1–3)Clay (2–1)Carpet (0–0) ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreDraw 1. Jul 1973 Newport, US Grass Julie Heldman Patti Hogan Sharon Walsh 1–5 shared –final rained outLoss 1. Dec 1973 Hobart, Australia Grass Jackie Fayter Helen Gourlay Karen Krantzcke 2–6, 1–6Win 1. Apr 1974 Phoenix, US Hard Janet Young Ann Kiyomura Betsy Nagelsen w/oLoss 2. Nov 1974 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Margaret Court Ilana Kloss Kerry Melville 3–6, 5–7Win 2. May 1975 Hamburg, West Germany Clay Renáta Tomanová Paulina Peisachov Kazuko Sawamatsu 6–3, 6–2Win 3. Mar 1976 Tallahassee, US Hard Julie Anthony Virginia Ruzici Mariana Simionescu 6–2, 7–5Loss 3. Dec 1976 Sydney, Australia Grass Renáta Tomanová Helen Gourlay Betsy Nagelsen 4–6, 1–6Win 4. Jan 1977Australian Open Grass Helen Gourlay Kerry Melville Reid Betsy Nagelsen 5–7, 6–1, 7–5Loss 4. Sep 1977 Hilton Head, US Clay Virginia Wade Evonne Goolagong Kerry Melville Reid 2–6, 6–3, 4–6Win 5. May 1979 Vienna, Austria Clay Marise Kruger Ilana Kloss Betty Ann Stuart 3–6, 6–4, 6–1Loss 5. Nov 1979 Melbourne, Australia Grass Anne Smith Billie Jean King Wendy Turnbull 3–6, 3–6Loss 6. Feb 1983 Palm Springs, US Hard Betty Stöve Kathy Jordan Ann Kiyomura 2–6, 2–6
Grand Slam singles tournament timeline
Tournament 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Career SR Australian Open (Jan)1RAQF2R3RAF Held in DecemberNH3R1R1R1R 0 / 13 French OpenAAA3R3RAAASFSF3RAAA1RA2RAAA 0 / 7 WimbledonAA1R1R1R4RA4RQF4R3RA1RA2R4RQF2R1RA 0 / 14 US OpenAAA3R2RSF4R3R4R4R1R2R1RA1RA1R2RAA 0 / 13 Australian Open (Dec) Held in JanuaryAAAA1R2RA2R3RNH Held in January SR0 / 10 / 00 / 20 / 40 / 40 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 30 / 30 / 40 / 20 / 20 / 10 / 40 / 10 / 40 / 30 / 20 / 1 0 / 47Year-end ranking2058106123832759930252156112NR
Note: The Australian Open was held twice in 1977, in January and December.
See also Performance timelines for all female tennis players since 1978 who reached at least one Grand Slam final
References
External links